Arkansas enacts law shielding faith-based adoption agencies

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed the Keep Kids First Act, which allows faith-based adoption and foster care organizations to operate according to their religious beliefs without government interference. The law prohibits state officials from requiring these organizations to place children in homes that contradict their moral convictions, particularly regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Supporters, including the Alliance Defending Freedom, argue that the law prioritizes the well-being of children and protects families from discrimination based on religious beliefs. However, opponents, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, warn that this could effectively exclude LGBTQ individuals from fostering or adopting children. Similar legislation has been passed recently in Kansas, where lawmakers overrode a governor's veto to protect religious liberty in adoption practices. Critics of such laws argue they could lead to discrimination against prospective parents based on sexual orientation or gender identity.